Sylvia's Simple Shots

It's been snowing and this day the snow was gently falling as I walked around my neighbourhood.

I found this crow in a tree just chilling.

I love how I captured the falling snow and it's large beak.  Unfortunately, the eye is not as sharp as I would have liked.

Nice dreamy shot.

These are the improvements I made to my Tumi Bag while I was at my sisters last week.

The bag is quite floppy and needed some structure.

It has enough pockets for the essentials that I carry.  

In my last purse I had a collection of things like my lip balm, my allergy eye drops, cough drops, and other things that just fell to the bottom of the center pocket.

With wanting to add structure to the bag we headed to the dollar store to see what we could find for organizers. We found these pencil cases. We built a case for them from mat board and duck tape. We added jump rings to the top so I can pull the pocket out easily. 

Now the contents are organized and the bag a solid core.

A sister and her husband came to visit this week.  They are the one who helped with carpet removal in the summer.  They wanted to see the new floor and have a visit.  Their kids were coming back from a ski trip.

I served roast chicken from the grocery store, salad, and fruit and muffins for dessert.

It's been great to have company.

I was gifted these beautiful Jianzhan tea tasting cups from China.  My nephew brought them back for me after I admired one he gave his Mom and Dad at Christmas.

Tea is my thing. Blue and yellow are my colors.  I look forward to using them when I settle in my new place as for now they are packed safely in a box for moving.

A watercolor card I made for my nephew and his wife who gave me the beautiful tea cups.

I chose watercolor paper and painted an abstract with bright yellow at the top running into ultramarine blue at the bottom.  

Once dry and pressed flat I trimmed the piece to leave a medium border and adhered it to the front of a SU Brilliant Blue card base.

I stamped the greeting with dark blue ink.

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn one of my favorite authors.

Another WWII story about a woman, Mila Pavlichenko, who transforms herself from a bookish Mom of one to a sharp shooter. Based on a true story of a mother who became a soldier, found her place in the world and changed history.

When she reaches her 300th kill she is pulled from the Eastern front and is invited to the United States on a goodwill tour. She is hosted by Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. 

Danger lurks in every corner both on the battlefield and away from the fight. 

Another wonderful book.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

Captured a Northern Flicker poking in the ground for worms in the park as evidenced by the dirt on his bill.  They are mostly ground feeders so that is where I have found them in the past.

I was visiting my sister and her husband for a fish fry on Friday for supper.  A tradition for all the Fridays in Lent.  It was delicious as always.

We headed to a local shop which sells ice cream and we in luck to have Maple Walnut flavor.  Hers and my favorite.  We ate them in the car so it would not result in a mess before we got home.

I was in Camrose for a funeral.  

With about 45 minutes on my hands and not being able to find the thrift store I headed to the Candler Gallery.

Found some wonderful art.  I recognized at least one artist who had art on display.  One of my aunt has had art in the gallery in the past which was why I knew where it was.

There was some nice pottery as well.

There is a gift shop in the front of the main level along with an art supply store.

Nice to enjoy a few minutes before meeting my sister and husband for lunch at A&W then headed to the funeral of my cousin's father.

While having a conversation with the gallery owner she let me know about the paints they carry which are made in Canada.  With the tariff situation good to know there is a Canadian option.

Tri-Art produces watercolor, acrylic and oil paint and is located in Kingston, Ontario.

I only picked up the watercolor brochure as that is what I would purchase.

The gallery ships Canada wide but a trip would be a nice break.

My good leather purse has a worn strap and the holding loop let go in the last couple days.  I don't have time to fix it right now so I packed it but I needed a replacement.

I found this bag at Goodwill for just over $10.  Inside is a tag that asks you to register your bag and it will be returned to you from anywhere in the world.

I was thinking this must be worth something if it has that kind of policy. There is a store in WEM which would explain it being here. 

I expect it is very good quality so I gave it a good wash in and out.  It is a bit floppy so I will have to do something to give it a bit of structure.

The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss is a book I finished recently.

A small book written by the same author as books I have recently read which I borrowed from my brother in law.

This is the story of Auri who leaves deep below the University.  A young lady that chooses to live a solitary life with animals rather than people.

She explores the vast spaces below ground and has named them all and has created paths and ways to travel from each. 

Some spaces house her special things, one is where she sleeps and all are very interesting. 

Very interesting character.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

This is a series I have been watching on Roku.  

It follows night sky photographers or astrophotographers from across the world as they photograph the stars, planets and other sky phenomenon.

Armed with hi-tech cameras, telescopes and camping equipment, these intrepid astrophotographers travel to the ends of the earth, braving the elements, extreme climates, and dangers both natural and man-made. They are determined to help all of us experience the magic of the night sky, gathering spectacular images of sparkling constellations, blazing comets, shadowy eclipses, and shooting stars. 

There was an episode which captured the solar eclipse in Indonesia where the photographer educated the people, provided glasses to residents so they could safely watch the event.

Beautiful content with educational component.

I finally found myself a new purse.  I had been carrying my old one in a reusable bag since the strap broke back in early February. 

This one was found at the thrift store but it was a brand new condition.  Wonderful soft leather for more than I was wanting to pay but it was definitely worth it. It was big enough with enough zippers to keep things secure.

I had looked at others in the last month where the store wanted around $20 for a visibly used purse so considering I had the cash I just bit the bullet and took it home. Very happy with this purchase.

I had been looking for a funnel with a large opening so I could transfer my ground flaxseed from the blender to my storage jar each week.

I buy whole flax seed because it lasts longer than buying it already ground.  It deteriorates fast once ground.

I freeze the bags of whole seeds which allows me to buy it on sale and have a supply on hand for several months ahead.

Works well.

Another great book by Josephine Cox - Cradle of Thorns.

Nell Reese lost her mother early and her father's guilt about his wife has kept him cowed for years. They live with his sister who rules their world.  She is manipulative, abusive, and just mean spirited.

Nell has maintained her spirit and sense of self these many years living under these circumstances. Her father facilitates her escape from this tyranny now that she is expecting his grandchild.

Nell meets Kit along her travels, a ten year old orphan who has lived on the streets all his life. She takes him under her wing when she does not have much.  As the delivery grows near Nell depends on Kit and he rises to the occasion on the day of the delivery.

She returns to her father and the man she has been in love with for years. The obstacles to their union have been cleard and she now can live in peace with her new husband, baby girl and of course, Kit.

I have been released by the physiotherapist once the results of my MRI were discussed.

I have made excellent progress and I now have to move forward with the exercises assigned into my new life of mobility and health.

This is leg lifts with movements to the front, side and back with an elastic band.  It is a progression from my side lifts before.  It gives me options for a bit a variety in my routine.

This is a new balance exercise - Standing on one foot I move a ball from hand to hand

It is amazing how it changes things just to involve my hands.

I will use my massage ball.

I have been doing step ups since visit 4 but I had not documented them before so I have added them here.

I have a small stool that I use which is just high enough for me to maintain proper form when doing these.

I do have my areobics step which I can graduate to once I get stronger.  It has 2 more adjustments I can make to taller than the stool.

I am sure that will work out well

I visited my sister for Fish Fry on Friday supper meal. On Saturday we worked on a sewing project of a casserole carrier we designed and sewed together. Keep an eye out for that project in the next few days.

I delivered the quilting fabric I picked up at the ReUse Ctr and the cotton fabric donated at quilting to my sister.  

We had a brain storming session about this beautiful linen fabric I got from the ReUse Ctr a while back and it will become a table runner.  I will use the embroidery part with maybe a strip of navy in the center. We separated the embroidery from the rest and thought we might dye the remainder denim blue but after reading the instructions more carefully it suggested fixative as well so we headed to the city to pick that up since my regular store in my city did not have it in stock.  She has a sink in the basement which we can use without danger of dyeing something precious.  This project will have to wait.  

I was visiting one sister when the other returned from her trip to Belize. 

We had a really good catch up visit with her and her husband.

Great meals and sharing.

With Mom and Dad both gone we have to make new routines to ensure we stay connected.

Sewing Project - Coin Purse V2

I created my Coin Purse V2 today.  Based on the first one I did in Sept 2019 I decided some improvements could be implemented.  You can check  Coin Purse V1. 

The changes were:

1) More durable fabric
2) Stiffer backer
3) Different closure

I lost the original pattern and there was no documentation in my Project Binder so I had to redraw the pattern.  Thank goodness for my blog where I had a photo of the measurements. 

I decided to use the dark green of my jacket for this project as it will be durable.  I chose a white satin for the inside so that I can see what coins I have. For the backer I used a 3" piece of stiff pellon as well as this thin 3" circle of plastic I found in my stash of old stencils.  The measurements include the .25 inch seam allowance.

I used Velcro instead of snaps as the closure.  That was able to be added with machine stitching which was faster.  I added a pull tab in the seam for the top which gives better leverage with Velcro closure.  

I ended up with the pieces of batik fabric on the inside of the purse because I miscalculated when putting my layers together so I just added another small piece to the front.  It will fray as I use the purse and become more organic in the process. I have made great use of the 2 small pieces of batik I got for free at the ReUse center.

The pouch part is created by hand stitching the corners together. You have to figure out how far to go based on how the folds meet in the middle. I just lucked out on mine.

Sewing - Coin Purse

I had a squeeze coin purse which has worked well but the other day the squeezer broke!  I thought it would be easy to replace but after visiting a few retailers no such luck to find a similar coin purse.

Well, I guess I will have to make my own. 

I measured the pocket in my purse that the coins live.  I proceeded to draw out a pattern. 

The coin purse will open like a box with the coins sitting on the bottom.  I placed a piece of stiffener in the bottom where the weight of the coins will rest. 

I chose two 6x6 pieces of fabric, cut the fabric according to the pattern, turned it inside out and ironed it. I stitched up the corners by hand.  I added 2 snaps - one on each corner of the top flap.

One of the advantages I can easily see what change I have easily with it is open.